Below is a video of us discussing the props we will need for the filming day. in the end we decided to go ahead with the frame and bracelet yet we would not show the the girl in the opening looking at the bracelet and the main focus will be of the picture in the frame. After talking to Ms Foster we decided it would be best not to include the box as realistically in a Mental Institute you would be given a clear plastic wallet therefore we will be replicating this. Also she advised us not to include the teddy bear as the girl chosen to play the distressed patient is not of a young age young and therefore does not have a purpose.
I have inserted an image of the final props that will be include, along with the actual hospital gown as well.We decided it was best not to include the bracelet in the shots we collected.
As a group we have made the decision to cast Mehreen Javaid, who is also a student at Enfield County, as the girl in the mental institute as she has shown an interest in acting and had expereince as she took drama for her GCSE'S, therefore we have decided that she was able to bring the role to life well. In addition she has an innocent and sweet appearance which juxtaposes to the reality of the murder, therefore taking the audience by surprise which is an element that we wanted to include in the opening as it is a typical of the horror/thriller genre as we see the idea of deception being displayed from the opening of the movie 'seven'.
The music creates an eerie and sinister feeling as if foreboding something bad is to occur later.Also through the shots that have been collated together it makes the audience feel as though they are observers watching, therefore highlighting the fact that this is a psychological thriller. The screams in the background create a sense of danger and urgency, emphasising the idea of helplessness. In addition, the shots are a compilation of close up shots of objects and actions being done like writing. No shots of an actual face is included adding the theme of anonymity. I also notice that most of the shots begin blurred out then eventually get clearer presenting the concept of deception which is a common attribute of those who suffer from psychological disorders, therefore hinting at the plot/ concept In terms of editing the titles have been included with the black screens which I think is effective as you are left to really focus on the titles at some points as when they are incorporated into the shots they aren't paid as much attention to.
The lighting is low-key and very dark and the concept of shadows is obviously used to add mystery.
We have decided collectively as a group to use the room above in the school as it is quite simplistic and will successfully create the atmosphere we are aiming for. In terms of the availability of the room we are able to use the room on school days for 2 hours after school so we will need to work fast and remove the objects and furniture as it will interfere with the mis-en-scene. In addition due to the fact of it being used as a medical room and containing a bed it adds to the verisimilitude of the opening sequence. In addition the props that will be included in the opening are a photo frame, which will trigger the flashbacks,the bracelet and a clear plastic wallet that contains all the personal items.
Below are the images for our final storyboard which contains a rough idea of all the shots we will be planning to capture, effects we are planning to incorporate into certain shots as well as the lighting in more depth.
On the 11th November we attended a programme held at the British Film Institute,in Southbank which focused on making film openings.At the beginning we listened to Tom Woodcock, who is a film and media teacher so had years of experience of the coursework that we were going to be completing. We took part in activities and became familiar with Macro and Micro Conventions, which appeared to be quite useful for myself as it made me realise how crucial the opening is in terms of giving the audience enough to leave them in anticipation yet not giving away too much.
We watched some openings like Napoleon Dynamite,Casino Royale and The Wedding Singer, and we had to predict macro elements like the genre,narrative, character, themes and atmosphere which were presented in each film. This task made me think more in depth when watching the opening compared to how I would usually at home and it gave me an idea as to how different genres have vaguely given hidden clues which appear to be relevant to the plot of the movie.
In addition, we looked at other openings to identify Micro Conventions (colour, lighting, font,framing,costume,props and setting) and to see what elements were consistent. When doing this task I found the opening to the movie 'Seven' quite similar to the aesthetic we were aiming for with our opening such as the lighting is quite dark in each shot and the font was messy and child-like giving that typical horror look. Likewise it got me thinking about the importance of leaving negative space for the titles as it helps give the opening a better look rather than having the writing covering an important action happening.
In the evening, there was a useful interview style talk with Dexter Fletcher, who is and actor and successful director. He spoke about the success of his films such as " Wild Bill" and " Eddie the Eagle" and the struggles he faced whilst filming such as finding a suitable location.
Also he gave his opinion on the importance of the opening titles and whether he made that a focus to lead the audience in or actually was more interested in whats going on in terms of acting.
Something that I found stayed with me is the fact that he had told us you can still produce a successful film with a low budget, as the viewers will still obtain the same information that you put across as well as still being plugged in if the plot is interesting and unique.
The Missing is a British-American television drama series first broadcast on BBC One in the UK.Currently there are only 2 seasons of the series.
SEASON 1 TRAILER ~ Through watching the trailer, non-dietetic sound is heavily incorporated to introduce a new scene being introduced. The sound chosen at 0.08 seconds is used to replicate the sound of the camera as though these are all moments captured in the mind of the parents and emphasizes the fact that they cannot be erased so easily. In addition at 0.16 seconds,there is a very quiet screeching sound in the background which gives an insight to the audience the state of mind through those who were effected creating a sense of sympathy.Furthermore the sound adds to the tense atmosphere that is being created and adds to the verisimilitude of the whole plot. Also flashbacks and flash forward results in the audience being reeled in to the drama and leaves the viewers with their imaginations to wander what is being discovered that helps piece the mystery. SEASON 2 TRAILER ~ SUMMARY OF THE PLOT : Season 1 focuses on Tony Hughes, who in the summer of 2006, during the Fifa cup travels from the United Kingdom to northern France for a holiday with his wife Emily and 5-year-old son Oliver. Not long after entering France, their car breaks down, forcing them to spend the night in the small town of Chalons du Bois. One evening, Tony and Oliver visit a crowded outdoor bar, where the quarterfinals football match is being watched. Tony loses sight of his son, never to find him again.
Eight years later, Oliver has not been found; the police have closed their investigation, and the couple are divorced. Although Tony never stopped looking for his son, after seeing a recent picture of the French village where a little boy is wearing a scarf identical to the one Oliver was wearing the day he disappeared, and that was specially made for him with a unique insignia, Tony gets back on track, and with the help of retired detective Julien Baptiste, who led the original investigation, he starts to put the pieces together while the police decide to officially reopen the case.
It is classified as a swift-moving crime thriller that also takes the time to measure the effects of the crime on Tony and Emily's marriage, their state of mind, and the lives of the French townspeople who were drawn into the investigation.
In Season 2 The story is told in dual timelines: flashing between 2014 and the present time. It features Sam and Gemma Webster, whose daughter Alice, went missing in 2003. She mysteriously returns home towards the end of 2014, apparently having been held captive with Sophie Giroux, a French girl who disappeared at about the same time. The French detective Julien Baptiste, who investigated the Oliver Hughes case, was in charge of the Giroux investigation. Although now in retirement, he becomes involved again.
It is said 'The Missing' elevates the familiar dynamic to a new level with a gut-wrenching mystery.
Below I have inserted our storyboard animation for our film opening.We have edited the clip to illustrate the way we envision our real opening so in order to get this across we added sound in order to create an eerie and suspense-filled atmosphere as well as including lighting.This has helped us as we have a clear and better idea of how everything will appear in sequence.
