Production Log

Since out first draft of the pre-production task, we have changed the concept of the opening and been able to relate it to a similar film P2. Therefore by finding this film and analysing the opening for it, we were able to recreate shots and the plot to our own opening. We changed the location as an disadvantage was that the lights in the last car park was too bright and didn't really fit into the genre convention. We resolved this by choosing another car park which fits the plot a bit more however now we are lacking in light for this new location but we are adjusting the times we will be recording. If the lighting is still not as we could want, there are other car parks around the location as well so we could change to another if and see if it fits with the lighting we would expect. This update of the pre-production task will not be continued to the final footage as none of the shots could be of use however it is very different from the first one we recorded as a lot has changed. I hope for the final footage, we have considered all the targets and managed to complete all of them to ensure that the task has been improved and fits all the expectations. 

Audience Research - Focus Groups 2

We had another focus group for the redraft of our pre-production task. However compared to the first focus group instead of asking our target audience, we asked a group of media studies students from a year 12 class. By doing this, it enabled us to get specific detail into what we could do to improve while also having the audience fit the certain ages for the film. From the first focus group, it gave us more of an idea of what the audience wanted to see where as in the second one we were able to identify what we had done well and what wasn't to then make improvements on. 
Here is the feedback we got back to now improve on:

• Add some found footage at the start of a city scene- moving in on a car park (aerial shot)
• Re-shoot the car park ceiling (needs more light)
• Have some parallel scenes of what the boy was doing - use the pulse transition with jump cuts x2
• POV shots
• Over the shoulder shots (try a whip pan)
• More close ups 

Self evaluation of initial opening scene

Firstly our opening scene did not meet my aims, when planning the scenes it was very stripped back and simple therefore I think when filming we presumed it would be the same. However filming was a struggle and getting every shot correctly was difficult especially as many of them consist of the female character walking. Moreover as an improvement, when completing our re-draft we are considering changing the plot of the opening as the first one was too boring and did not fit the genre conventions. I personally would not watch this film, the opening showed no excitement or thrill to fear the audience as we were trying to portray suspense. However this did not go as planned when all the female actor was doing was walking and the male actor was shown to not really fit into the context so it didn't make as much as sense as imagined. There are many changes that needs to be done, for example the plot of the opening, the titles currently do not match the genre, perhaps even get the actors to dress in a particular way to match the genre as well so the opening fits well together. Lastly, lighting needs to be changed as the aim was to have the last scenes of the opening in the outdoor car park however it was too dark therefore it was harder to see the actors. For the re-draft, we will have to change the location and not have the outdoor scenes and also find a form of lighting to use to brighten up the shots slightly.

Analysis of title sequences - The Gift / Art of the title

Originally at the very beginning of production with titles, when completing research I found a title from the 'Art of the title' website that was suggested to me. After a look around the website, I found a specific title font called 'Semi-Permanent Sydney 2015' this really stood out to me despite how plain it is. The Semi-Permanent Sydney 2015 font to me looks sophisticated. For the genre thriller, it’s very easy to mistake the title and include a horror element into it however thriller’s are more about the suspense throughout which adds the fear element. Therefore thriller’s aren't all meant to show terror through their titles, I picked this one because the opening should tell the story itself. The title is there to add a little bit of suspense and by the simplicity of this title which can be a statement on its own, personally I think it looks more professional and doesn't seem like a cliché.  In many thriller films, the own focus isn't always the titles however they still conduct the titles to suit the theme of the genre so it is still an important factor regardless if it is considered to look basic. Then from acknowledging this specific font, I was able to familiarise it with the 'Gone girl' font and later when researching films found it similar in 'The Gift'. 

'Gone girl' is a more realistic version of it as the titles in 'The Gift' are more action related especially as in the opening the word 'Gift' is shown bigger than 'the' which relates to something that would be shown in action films. I think this because they are signifying the second word more prominently. As mentioned before, the genre itself isn't add any effects into the font and 'The Gift' in the titles on the movie posters is shown to have an cut along the words perhaps even like a knife going through. This adds more tension into the titles and excitement for the film as the rest of the presentation is in-complex. 

The movement of the titles are once again very simple and are shown after the opening scene in the center of the screen, it automatically goes onto a black background and then the titles both fade in and out. They didn't overdo the movement therefore it can subtly continue onto the rest of the film, from the cinematography and mise en scene the genre of the film could be mistaken for romance. Therefore all throughout the opening and even to the fade in and out, it is all very mysterious and the audience have yet to be fear. 

Analysis of title sequences - P2

I purposely chose the film P2 as it is the one we are mainly focussing on when it comes to our pre-production task. Therefore by researching more into this film with the analysis', it allows me to identify shots, titles, credits etc. for us to take into consideration for our opening. For example, the titles used for the film is generic for the genre so for when redrafting ours I am able to know to choose a different yet effective title. However I do like the purpose behind the titles and would want to include that into ours, so the audience know the titles weren't just picked by the look of it.  The titles for the film diverts away from the genre conventions of a thriller as it looks like they have used a type writer effect to show the seriousness. But also type writers are normally used in forms of service e.g. being associated with the military as it provides a non biased look towards the film. However this links more so into the narrative than the genre as the main male character himself is a security guard therefore his work role is an act of service which relates back onto the titles. The audience may not be able to pick up on the simplicity that the designers could of incorporated although it may make sense to them as the film progresses on. An alternative suggestion that I originally assumed when watching the titles was that it appears to be more action based. I thought would be done to intensify the scene that is about to happen, the element of action is key in the genre as it builds tension and when done correctly which I think this film has done allows the audience to feel fear. Although the titles are more associated with the narrative more so the genre, I still think they fit into the genre conventions as it is straightforward. Most thriller films do not bother too much with titles yet still create it to make an effect onto the audience. Therefore even if they are simple, it is still effective as they need to attract the audience even with titles to intensify the film a little bit more. The movements of the titles are slow paced and are shown as the opening scene is happening, they have made the font white so it can be acknowledged by the audience especially with the darker background of the scene. The titles are presented as the lead up towards the car begins, as the camera zooms closer and closer to the single car parked they are shown up until the shot from in front of the boot. Due to the rapid speed of the approaching camera to the scene, I think that is why they have purposely slowed down the titles to emphasise them but also allow the audience to establish what is going on in the scene. 

Evaluation of the preliminary task

The successes in the preliminary task was that we included a range of different shots, we knew beforehand the type of shots we wanted to include to make sure we had put them in. As well as the varied camera angles and positions, for example the match on action shot we did which was one of my favourite shots as it was particularly good and fit well into the rest of the shots. However the failures for the task, I thought were the location was too obvious as it was filmed inside of school. Despite the varied shots, some of the other shots didn't make sense nor did the plot of the task fit in with the other shots when put together. The editing of the task was also too fast and again with the shots didn't really flow together as they should. Lastly as a failure, the lighting of the shot dramatically changes from a bright environment to a darker one and the contrast between the two makes it difficult for the audience to view. When completing the preliminary task, the production was slightly more different than expected. It took a while to prepare filming and even the lead up to it as we had to finish all the production work before we could begin filming. Along with the complications of the location that happened, overall the production could of been better also. However, I think the shots were easy to complete and film as we knew exactly what we were doing which I think is an area we need to continue with for the pre-production as we have been struggling with shots and the plot of the opening.

Analysis of opening and titles - P2

In the opening of the film P2 which was directed by Franck Khalfoun and released on Novemeber 9th 2007 there are many aspects of micro elements that are shown throughout. For example, the use of sound is made key at the very beginning when it opens with non-diegetic sound and is carried on throughout. The opening sound is extremely eery which has been done purposely to immediately create the intense atmosphere and already give the audience an uncomfortable feeling. This sound is only intensified as the the opening continues and then it transitions into 'Santa Baby' which gives the suggestion that the film may be related to the Christmas time period. However the transition contradicts itself as the song itself is made to create a comfortable and merry environment but in the scene of an empty car park with only one car parked shows the instability of the situation. This then could cause the feeling of unease for the audience. Despite the fact that the Christmas song is being played, the non-diegetic sound that started at the beginning is still made audible in the background to remind the audience that everything is not ok. 

All throughout as this happens, the camera angles are slowly being zoomed in. The opening starts and the camera goes along part of the building which shows a security camera and carries on going lower until in white bolded large font 'P2' is shown. 

The font used is purposely the type you would see in any car park, alerting the on goers and now for the film it is alerting the audience the title of the film and presenting it like a statement. The colour of font is carried on throughout the whole of the opening as it is white, it allows it to be easily noticed onto the dark background. Therefore the audience can easily acknowledge the titles and it is more obvious that the titles cannot be ignored as they have been made to be so prominent despite what is going on. 

Then from the shot of the title of the film, it pans onto the car which is shown to be the only one in the car park which very quickly enables the audience to create suspicion and also allows the enigma codes to begin. Eventually the camera moves closer using a medium shot however it could also be a POV shot as the camera stops outside of the car boot until it shows an eye being shown which is made to make the audience jump. Immediately after the eye is shown, a hand is shown to frantically come out from the boot which are handcuffed which makes the enigma codes rise and the audience could even perhaps begin piecing events they think could of happened. The shots specifically featured is something I wish to include into our opening as it is excites and thrills the audience as the build up happens, just from the song they have chosen tells the audience that the scene that is about to be opened up to them is to put them on edge. For example, the beginning zoom in shots of the car is what we are aiming to create in our own opening as well. This is because I think it intensify's the opening of the shot and makes the audience feel fear. They creatively made both the non-diegetic sound fit in very effectively and it only increased the tension as it opens with a joyful Christmas song yet the scene being placed is the exact opposite which is something I want to recreate. I like the fact that they opened up and straight away put the sense of fear into the audience to hook them early on and identify the genre of the film. This is something I want us to reproduce in our own to change the pace and plot of our opening as it was previously more dull and not a lot going on in the shots.