Production Meeting

Date: 31st January 2014
Time: 9:15am
Present: Katie, Maia, Callum and Georgie

During this meeting we discussed what shots we are going to re filming and when we will be filming them. We have decided to re film scene 2 on monday (3rd Feb) first lesson (9am - 10.30am). Instead of filming all the walking parts (bullies carrying Reece) we have decided to cut them down and do the whole scene in just 2 short shots. Walking round the corner of the wall then fading into Reece being pushed over continuing with him being punched.

On monday (3rd Feb) last lesson (2.40pm - 4.10pm) we have decided to re film scene 5 and if we haven't got enough time we will film scene 5 on tuesday (4th Feb). I few complete filming scene 5 on monday last lesson we will then film scene 6 on tuesday (4th Feb), which will be filmed in the refectory. We will all sit around the table and put the camera between two of us to film the other two which will be a mid shot.

On wednesday (5th Feb), we will be recording the audio, this will include any dialogue and any sound effects needed.

Finally on thursday (6th Feb) onwards we plan to start editing our new shots into our sequence using Premiere Pro and then After effects for the visual effects.

Production Meeting

Date: 30th January 2014
Time: 3:45pm
Present: Katie, Maia and Callum

• We took into account our rough cut feedback and that its hard to establish the change in schools, so we're going to add in a scene of a pan of the new school before Reece walks in and meets Lauren, Rizzo and Kieran.
• Some of the scenes didn't know out as good as we hoped so we'll go out and reshoot a couple (e.g. when Kiera appears)
• Add more sound effects to make the sequence more engaging and realistic
• Add more interesting transitions between shots
• Finish our special effect editing 

Appraising the Rough Cut

Audio

Strengths:

• Dialogue works well and is very engaging

Weaknesses:

• I currently have no sound effects
• There is no background music yet

Improvements:

I shall include sound effects and music and cut out bad sounds

Special Effects

Strengths:

• I have 3 special effects
• One is teleportation which my feedback shows people found effective, showing good quality
• Another is invisibility which looks really good as well as good quality
• The invisibility fits in well because i'm creeping up on friends who are talking about me
• The teleportation effect looks good because he's going to the toilet to cry as he's been bullied

Weaknesses:

• A visual effect is a fireball which is a bit unrealistic at the moment especially since the quality of the fire ball is good and the film quality is poor

Improvements:

I plan to improve the Fireball effect because of the poor film quality as well as I look at the camera so I will re film it

Sequence

Strengths:

• The sequence appears to make sense to people who have given feedback
• It is very entertaining
• Flows well
• Set dressing is all good 

Weaknesses:

• Poor acting
• Editing is quite jumpy from different shots

Improvements:

Re film parts that are bad to avoid it being jumpy.
One part that could do with improvements is when Callum's character moves school, people often get confused, so we have decided to show him walking into the front of the school and showing a sign with the school name to avoid confusion.

Rough Cut Feedback

Production Title: Students VS Zombies
Feedback from: Christen S

Does it make narrative sense: Yes

Do the special effects fit well with the sequence? 

How could they be improved?: Yes - teleport to toilet

Is the dialogue engaging?: Yes

What do the sound FX, ambient sounds

and music add?: Background noise could be added when they walk outside when it's quiet

Is it entertaining?: Very!

What would you do to improve the sequence?:  When they kick Callum, you could see sam was kicking the ground.

Feedback from: Alexander Purvis

Does it make narrative sense: Yes, its about a boy who gets bullied then moves school where people have magic/super powers.

Do the special effects fit well with the sequence? 
How could they be improved?: Yes, I like the teleport one the best, and I also like how katie turns up in the scene but didn't see 3 specific effects.

Is the dialogue engaging?: It's alright but i think that the tone of voice is to mono toned and should have something to it.

What do the sound FX, ambient sounds
and music add?: I couldn't hear any added sound effects, music or ambient sound, but think that you could add some to the kicking to make it sound like guys kicking the ground.

Is it entertaining?: I think it has a good story line and is very entertaining

What would you do to improve the sequence?: I would dub the dialogue and add some people talking in the background when inside to make it sound better.

Rough Cut 2

Rough Cut

Production Meeting 23/01/14

Problems and Solutions with project

P
- Not much thought towards visual effects so they've all come confusing
S
- Re-planned scene 5 and re film it today and tomorrow

P
- Too much eye contact on camera when unnecessary
S
- Re film, get character to have a eye point so not looking directly at camera

P
- Shot angles, often breaking the filming rules
S
- Re plan the angles, re film with new angles

Matte Paintings Comparison

Definition from Hand book 

Matte painting was also used instead of  'building a set or carting in a mountain range, the needed elements were painted on the glass on location' (accidentally cropped out of picture)

Definition from Wikipedia








Looking at these definitions, you can see that the hand book gives a more defined definition, where wikipedia it has been put more simpler and doesn't go into so much detail as such.

The similarities between both definitions are that they both describe how they are used to create/replace a background for the appropriate scene. It tells us that its used instead of 'building a set or carting in a mountain range' and it is a 'painted representation of a landscape, set or distant location' which are created by being 'painted on the glass at location'.

The differences between the definitions are that the handbook is more detailed in the sense that when it talks about how it's done, it says 'a sheet of glass is placed between the camera and scene filmed' as well as saying 'the section of the filmed image thats blocked out or matted out' where as wikipedia simply says 'allows filmmakers to create the illusion' not so much telling you whats being done to create the effect and it doesn't give you too much of an explanation.

Health And Safety

- Don't go on the roof
- Climbing on things
- No skateboarding on things
- Take care filming on stairs (use filming sign)
- No liquids on floors (especially corridors)
- Take care outside with weather conditions
- Be aware of other people
- Risk assessment

Contingency Plan

Problems and solutions (P:S)

Nuisances - 

P: Remembering the script
S: Spend time revising, at home, in free lessons, in-between shots

P: Arguing about how we look in the videos
S: Just get on with it and agree not to argue about it

P: Recording the sound effects
S: Record them to get them done and out of the way quickly as possible

P: People messing around
S: Tell them to grow up and take it seriously

Minor Problems - 

P: Callum going to France on the 12th of January
S: Work hard to complete work before he goes and use extra time in free lessons if needed

P: Finding the right music for the background
S: Spend free time researching

P: Someone we need might not be here for the lesson we need them (e.g. extras are ill)
S: Find a replacement quickly

P: After effects editing
S: Watch tutorial videos to help

P: Premiere Pro editing
S: Watch tutorial videos to help

P: Lighting
S: Try to get as much natural lighting in the shots as possible

P: Making sure actors from the other group are available when we need to shoot with them
S: Inform them on the dates of when we want to film them in advance

P: Effects not looking realistic
S: Keep working and re-doing them and watch tutorials

P: Photoshop editing
S: Watch tutorials

P: Locations are too busy to shoot in
S: Find similar locations

P: Bad acting
S: Practise and be enthusiastic

Major Problems -

P: The Weather
S: Find an alternative location where there is shelter or film another day

P: Lose footage
S: Re-film ASAP in free time

P: People not being here (main characters)
S: Film when they come back and film/edit something else meanwhile

P: Commitment
S: Threaten to kick them out, warn them et

P: Finding costumes
S: Discuss about where to look in free time and borrow clothes from each other

P: People being ill
S: Ask if they'll just in just for filming

P: Getting the sound effects
S: Use a microphone to record the effects

P: How to get the kitchen scene done
S: Ask politely about using the staff room

P: Not filming all of the shots and completing the task to the deadline
S: Make media the priority of all lessons and film in free time etc

Costumes for characters (Students VS Zombies)

 Name of Actor: Katie Turner
 Name of Character: Keira
 Height: 5"1
 Eye Colour: Green/Blue
 Hair Colour: Ginger
 Accent: British
 Style: Chav (White cap, white top, grey tracky bottoms, white supra hi-tops)

 Name of Actor: Maia Creed
 Name of Character: Lauren
 Height: 5"1
 Eye Colour: Green
 Hair Colour: Brunette
 Accent: British
 Style: Indie (Denim jacket, flowery top, leggins, converse, fringe bag)

 Name of Actor: Georgie Horne
 Name of Character: Rizzo
 Height: 5"3
 Eye Colour: Blue
 Hair Colour: Brunette
 Accent: British
 Style: Fashionable (leggins, white vest top, blue cami top, brown boots, leather jacket)

 Name of Actor: Callum Molyneux
 Name of Character: Reece
 Height: 6"
 Eye Colour: Green/Blue
 Hair Colour: Light Brown
 Accent: British
 Style: Nerd (white/blue trainers, long blue socks, 3/4 length tracksuit bottoms, nike hoody, white beanie)

Health and Safety

Casting Notes

Casting Notes for Students VS Zombies

Characters we are looking for:

Kiera - For this character we are looking for a chav styled person who will wear tracksuits and hats.
            We have chose myself (Katie) for this role as she can be made up to the character by wardrobe.
             (Ginger, 5"1, british)

Lauren - This character is to be a hippy styled person with quite wacky clothes.
                Maia has been chosen as most suitable for this role.
                (Brunette, 5"1, british)

Rizzo - Rizzo is to be a fashionable character of the group.
             We will use Georgie as the role of this character.
             (Brunette, 5"3, british)

Reece - This character is to be a nerd wearing glasses and unfashionable clothing.
             We have chosen Callum to be this character.
             (Light brown, 6", british)

Henry - This character is a tall bully who looks quite intimidating.
             Matt would be suitable for this role because of his height as he towers over us which can helps
             create the type of person we need.
             A possible alternative could be Charlie.

Peter - This character is another bully who is friends with Henry, he isn't going to be as tall because
             Henry needs to be seen as the most dominant one.
             Alex would be suitable because he can look intimidating.

Paul - This is another one of Henry's backup friends who again, isn't to be as tall but to look
            intimidating.
           Sam would be suitable for this because he fits the needs of the character.

Zombie #1 - The zombie will mainly be made up by wardrobe.
                     Anyone could be suitable for this role. We will use Georgie.

Zombie #2 - The zombie will mainly be made up by wardrobe.
                     Anyone could be suitable for this role. We will use Callum.

Zombie #3 - The zombie will mainly be made up by wardrobe.
                     Anyone could be suitable for this role. We will use Maia.

Zombie #4 - The zombie will mainly be made up by wardrobe.
                     Anyone could be suitable for this role. We will use Katie.

Production Meeting

Meeting started at 11.15. People present myself, Maia, Callum and Georgie. We discussed several things during this process. This meeting was to organise a schedule for filming and different parts  of the film we're creating and to try and fit in everything we need to work on up until the deadlines we have been given.

Deadline dates:

13th January 2014 - The day we get the camera and start to film
29th January 2014 - The rough copy of the film deadline
30th January 2014 - Feedback and working on what needs to be improved
14th February 2014 - Final piece deadline

We have worked out a schedule that enables us to complete all the work need to be done up to this point.

We have discussed the fact that we need to book retain times with the characters in the script that are not part of the group, so it fits around there schedule.

The first few days of the first week we have decided to work on the special effects, the filming and the computer special effects. This is due to the fact that we all need as much time as possible to get the special effects perfect and because there the main part of the piece, they need to be as good as they can be. The VFX will take the most time.

In the group we need to still decide the final costumes needed in the piece. But because theres not enough time to get the costumes organised in lesson time we will get together out of the lesson in a free time and plan the costumes for the piece.

The audio we have decided to do near the end. So we can incorporate the other special effect sounds. With some of the shots the audio will be in the shots.

Because we have 56 shots we need to work fast, organised and we all have to focus. This is because if we don't the rough copy will not be completed to then be analysed and we won't know what to improve on to make the work better.