Continuity Task
My continuity piece took weeks of planning and preparation. I needed to ensure I used the correct equipment, actors and setting for my film. In the end I decided to go with a simple idea showing that I could use a range of camera techniques and understand when suitable to use them and show that I could edit effectively with various scenes and sound.
When producing this film I had help from a Zack porter (a friend of mine) coming up with idea's. we both agreed that it would be most suitable to be filmed inside a house. We also thought that it would be best if I was to be the main character as I had the best understanding of how I wanted the film to run so I asked Zack if he could fill in as producer for me. We filmed using a DSLR camera (Canon 600D) and had help from various other pieces of equipment that were available in our media department.
Here are some photos I took before filming my continuity, they contain the camera used to film, where some of the scenes take place within my house including where the conversation was held:
Here are some photos I took before filming my continuity, they contain the camera used to film, where some of the scenes take place within my house including where the conversation was held:
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The script that I have planned is:
Character 1 (Nathan): Alright mate, I'm just going out!
Character 2 (Zack): Ok then, Where are you going?
Character 1 (Nathan): Just going to the shop.
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Continuity Script
In my continuity I needed to include dialogue. I decided to keep the dialogue to a minimum so I will include a short conversation between me and the another character called Zack Porter. The script will be very simple and only 3 lines long.The script that I have planned is:
Character 1 (Nathan): Alright mate, I'm just going out!
Character 2 (Zack): Ok then, Where are you going?
Character 1 (Nathan): Just going to the shop.
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Sound
As well as the rest of the film I decided to keep the sound simple. I thought it would work well if I chose a mellow song to run through the whole film and have some diagetic sound. Here is a link from YouTube of the song I decided to run through the whole of my continuity piece, it is called 'intro' by 'the xx'
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Planning my final piece
After completing my continuity we got set the task of creating an opening to a thriller. After the success of the first piece I decided I was going have my own group with two friends Zack who helped me with producing and Jack who starred in the opening to a thriller piece. We discussed about plans and they suggested ideas which I will include in my final piece. I then gave Zack and Jack the roles they will have in this production.
Planning the plot
I decided that I want my final piece to be based around the main character having psychological issues. I spoke to zack and jack about these ideas and we decided that it would be a good idea if I portrayed the main character to have bipolar. We decided the most effective to do this is if we use cut backs showing the audience that he can act completely normal and another scene where he suffers from severe panic attacks and often uses drugs. A third scene would introduce a second character, this character would meet the main character at a discrete location to deal drugs. The second character would then get set up and the main character would set him up and shoot him. Because of this idea we agreed that the use of sound would be very effective and because it is an opening to a thriller the titles would come on throughout the piece.
The first scene would portray normality and the main character doesn't show his mental problems all of the time. I decided that this scene would contain many extreme close ups, close ups and mid shots when the character makes a cup of tea and sits down in a homely lounge and watches the TV. The character would then arrange the meeting point with the second character. I decided that this scene would have mainly diagetic, when he title 'Lapse' (the title of my thriller) will then come over the top and there will be a news reporting which will appear to be from the TV. After this scene it will then cut to the Third location where he meets for the drug deal.
The drug deal scene will be in a discrete location and it will be in a rather battered house, this will add tension to the audience. This scene will have some dialogue in it and will have a lot various shots. It will also be mainly just diagetic sound. At the beginning of the scene the main character will hide a gun, we will then be introduce to the second character (me) and there will be an over the shoulder shot from the main character looking at the second character walking towards the meeting point. They will then have a short conversation and the second character will then walk off to have a look at the drugs, the main character will then walk up behind and shoot the second character. Throughout this scene there will be cut backs from the second location where it appears the the main character is having a panic attack.
the second location will also be in a battered, small, dark room to show the message that he is trapped. It will mainly consist of just close ups. There will also be non-diagetic sound as I think having a slow song will me more effective. The main character will seem to be having a panic attack, he will be furiously scrubbing his hair and rubbing his face with water. This is to try and portray to the audience that he is trying to escape. I have also decided to film this section of thr film that it is in black and white, this is because it will be cut back to on the drug deal scene it gives the sense that it is darker.
This is a story board I produced:
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After deep thought I have decided where I want the three of my film to be based. The first scene is for the main character to act normal and not portray to the audience that he has any problems at all. This is is going to be filmed in my friend Jack's house. This is because his house is currently being renovated but his lounge looks very homely because it is the only room that is complete in his house. The second scene which will be used for the cutbacks, this scene needs to take place a dark place and quite a small room, This is going to be filmed in jack's bathroom. This is because it only has a small window so we can easily block the light out. Finally the last scene when the second characters will get killed will take place at an building which was used as a post office in the second world war. This building is on Cannock chase and is very battered and it is clear that it is old and not much care has been taken of it. I think these location fit very well with the story line and will hopefully be very effective when trying to portray a specific message to the audience.
- Nathan (me) - Camera man, Editor, Director, Actor
- Zack - Co-Camera man, Co-Editor
- Jack - Main Actor
Planning the plot
I decided that I want my final piece to be based around the main character having psychological issues. I spoke to zack and jack about these ideas and we decided that it would be a good idea if I portrayed the main character to have bipolar. We decided the most effective to do this is if we use cut backs showing the audience that he can act completely normal and another scene where he suffers from severe panic attacks and often uses drugs. A third scene would introduce a second character, this character would meet the main character at a discrete location to deal drugs. The second character would then get set up and the main character would set him up and shoot him. Because of this idea we agreed that the use of sound would be very effective and because it is an opening to a thriller the titles would come on throughout the piece.
The first scene would portray normality and the main character doesn't show his mental problems all of the time. I decided that this scene would contain many extreme close ups, close ups and mid shots when the character makes a cup of tea and sits down in a homely lounge and watches the TV. The character would then arrange the meeting point with the second character. I decided that this scene would have mainly diagetic, when he title 'Lapse' (the title of my thriller) will then come over the top and there will be a news reporting which will appear to be from the TV. After this scene it will then cut to the Third location where he meets for the drug deal.
The drug deal scene will be in a discrete location and it will be in a rather battered house, this will add tension to the audience. This scene will have some dialogue in it and will have a lot various shots. It will also be mainly just diagetic sound. At the beginning of the scene the main character will hide a gun, we will then be introduce to the second character (me) and there will be an over the shoulder shot from the main character looking at the second character walking towards the meeting point. They will then have a short conversation and the second character will then walk off to have a look at the drugs, the main character will then walk up behind and shoot the second character. Throughout this scene there will be cut backs from the second location where it appears the the main character is having a panic attack.
the second location will also be in a battered, small, dark room to show the message that he is trapped. It will mainly consist of just close ups. There will also be non-diagetic sound as I think having a slow song will me more effective. The main character will seem to be having a panic attack, he will be furiously scrubbing his hair and rubbing his face with water. This is to try and portray to the audience that he is trying to escape. I have also decided to film this section of thr film that it is in black and white, this is because it will be cut back to on the drug deal scene it gives the sense that it is darker.
This is a story board I produced:
Script
In my film I have decided to use dialogue between the 2 characters during the drug deal scene. The conversation will be very simple and brief, they will only greet each other and character 2 will ask the main character if they have the drugs. This is because it is suitable for the scene and it makes it very clear to the audience what is happening.
Character 2 (me): Alright mate
Character 1 (Jack): Hi mate
Character 2 (Me): Have you got the stuff?
Character 1 (Jack): Yeah, it's in there (pointing to another room)
Character 2 (me): Alright mate
Character 1 (Jack): Hi mate
Character 2 (Me): Have you got the stuff?
Character 1 (Jack): Yeah, it's in there (pointing to another room)
Setting
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| To block out light we used cardboard boxes |
After deep thought I have decided where I want the three of my film to be based. The first scene is for the main character to act normal and not portray to the audience that he has any problems at all. This is is going to be filmed in my friend Jack's house. This is because his house is currently being renovated but his lounge looks very homely because it is the only room that is complete in his house. The second scene which will be used for the cutbacks, this scene needs to take place a dark place and quite a small room, This is going to be filmed in jack's bathroom. This is because it only has a small window so we can easily block the light out. Finally the last scene when the second characters will get killed will take place at an building which was used as a post office in the second world war. This building is on Cannock chase and is very battered and it is clear that it is old and not much care has been taken of it. I think these location fit very well with the story line and will hopefully be very effective when trying to portray a specific message to the audience.  |
| This is where the drug deal and murder scene will take place |
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Filming Timetable
I planned a timetable for my filming. I did this so we can keep on track of the filming that we have to do. It is important to stick to this timetable as much as possible as the light can effect my film badly. It also helps because I like to be organised and this ensure that's the production will be one on time.
As you can see we decided to film over 2 different days. This is because the lighting needs to be consistent throughout the 'meet and murder scene'. filming it all on the same day will help to make sure that the lighting is the same throughout and will leave minimum space for error.
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