Directions Unit: 'A Journey Through...' Development - Foreshadows and Suggestions

After looking at how foreshadowing can be used in films it got me thinking about my project and how I can apply things like this to it.

A quick reference is in Psycho: the shower scene is foreshadowed.

I also want to add one or two things that suggest the protagonist is dreaming in my project too, along with the scarf appearing every time the protagonist is imagining something.

I'm looking at the idea that things you see/hear/experience in real life can influence your dreams when you go to bed.


My Ideas: Foreshadows

- During the first or second phone call have a stranger walk past the protagonist and look at them in a confused way since the protagonist, in reality, isn't talking to someone on the phone.
- Foreshadow the meeting scene by having one person hand something to another person right at the start of the film.


My Ideas: Influences

- For the first phone call early on in the film show someone engaged in a phone call either nearby or passing the protagonist.
- To influence the shopping bag: simply a shopping bag hanging on a bush on lying on the floor as the protagonist passes it.

The overall idea of the visions is to show that they are desires of the protagonist: a phone to contact friends or family; a smart outfit/nicer clothes and food (which is what is hinted to be in the shopping bag). So I don't want to go overboard with the influences as half the job is already done through the protagonist desiring these things.

Directions Unit: 'A Journey Through...' Development - Storyboarded scene

Below is a draft drawing I did of a particular scene in my 'A Journey Through...' film.

Directions Unit: Psycho Screening - Notes

We had a screening Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. Below are my notes on screen languages (framing, lighting, movement etc).

 Summary:

- Hitchcock likes to create a small space then suddenly enlarge that area (prominent in the shower-murder scene)
- He focuses on diegetic sounds such as the weather, engine, background noises: bringing an edgy realism to the film.
- Long takes and shots that linger for that extra second or so.

It's easy to see why he's regarded as the 'Master Of Suspense': the lingering shots and dead silences really create a sense of fear and rack up the tension.

Directions Unit: Sound Film - Finished Project

My finished 1-minute-sound-film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLTmSyMjSuI

What I like:
- Sounds very relaxing and ambient.
- The background song I created compliments the piece.
- The sources of the sounds are gradually revealed.
- The sound effects go well together.
- It feels like one-smooth camera motion.

What I don't like:
- I feel like I should have explored the surrounding area more.

Directions Unit: 'A Journey Through...' Pre-production - Locations

During my walk to the studio I took some photos of locations I intended on using for my 4-minute-film project.

The above two are of the same path but in opposite directions.

This will be for when the protagonist finds their way back to a familiar location.

 Stairs coming off from the path and leading down to a residential road.

I like this location as it feels quite enclosed and the stairs are like the podium down to that enclosed unfamiliar location. This will be used for when the protagonist gets lost.

The opposite end of the 'unfamiliar path'. 

A behind-the-character shot as they walk to the stairs will look great as it's like walking into the unknown: the character is unsure whether the stairs will lead them back to familiar territory.

The residential road.

I like the lower photo as it has great potential for an extreme-wide-shot, and will help encapsulate the loneliness feeling I'm after.

Path through woods.

This is arguably my favourite location out the ones I have found, I intend to use this for when the protagonist first begins to realise they're lost. The thin path emphasises claustrophobia and paired with tall trees on both sides it really creates a closed-in feel.

The top two photos link the woodland path to the residential road whilst the bottom photo is in a different area and may be used in an earlier scene.

It's very hard to see but at the bottom of the slope is a children's play park which would be perfect for when the protagonist meets the second character. The only problem is that it's very close to a busy road so audio may be an issue. I can counteract this by using a 'dead cat' cover on the microphone but also have a secondary microphone doing it's own separate audio. Filming this scene at a time where traffic will be sparse will also help.

Directions Unit: Sound FIlm - Plans and intentions part 2

2. I'm going to reveal the sources of the sounds through-out the film. As the film progresses sounds you heard will have their sources revealed although it won't be blatant: you'll still have to decipher what comes from where but at least you know where it's coming from.

3. Avoid fade transitions for everything. From the cinema doors closing about 10 seconds in I'm going to have every sound play constantly. Nothing will fade out and disappear from the film, I may lower the volumes to allow other sounds to be heard but no fading out. That way the brain is still picking it up even if the person isn't aware of the sound anymore, this is, to an extent, what I want to do with my original sound piece I made: have it so that it adds to the atmosphere subliminally.

Directions Unit: Sound Film - Plans and intentions part 1

Whilst I'm putting together the sound film: I might as-well talk about my plans and intentions for it...

1. I want the film to feel like it's flowing to enhance the calm, ambient music I made and the photo itself. So to do so I'm making it as one, continuous shot. By using the Ken Burns feature on Final Cut I can link one movement to the next without any cuts or fades to distract the viewer.

Quick behind the scenes on how I'm merging the different clips:

 Copy the clip you've already 'Ken Burns'ed'.

Select the KB option and swap...

...the start and end boxes around with the button the cursor is hovering over in the above image.

With the ending of the previous clip now the beginning of the next one I can drag the new end to the next area.