XIN SU

Link to The Final Full Piece.
Link to The Final 1.5mins Piece.

Collaboration

Week 9 Planing & create the storyboard
Week 10 Video storyboard & start shooting
Week 11 Editing & watch and analyse & re-shoot the project
Week 12 Editing & Prepare for the in-class presentation
Week 13 Editing 1.5 trailer & final full version
Week 14 Presentation

The Good Work Project underscored the importance of “good collaboration.” Communication and discussion between group members are always essential for processing the project. Collaborating with creatives who have a similar mindset but different skills or experience can directly benefit the project. After Zane. Ekey and i decide to work as a team for the final project, we discussed and chose the direction for the project straightaway. For example, we set the concept we will focus on, the style and few scenes. We also divide some part to do individually in order to advance the processor the task. We worked together for the first time is for the storyboard. We listed some places we want to set the scene and went there to took some photos, as well as some videos for creating a video storyboard. We spent quite a lot of time together for this project, and we found we had a lot of fun working together. We always communicating and discussing with each other about all the problem we faced, never argued. The only hard part for our collaboration is sometimes we found it is hard for us to find a common free time to meet each other. Thus, we started our project quite late since we crashed with each other’s time.

 

Pre-production process

Pre-production is essential in the filmmaking process. The importance of it always presents in your production. For example, if there has no proper planing for the project, you absolutely will find yourself in the editing room with missing content.

One of the step cannot be skipped in the pre-production will be create a storyboard. The form has no limitation, either can be present in drawing or filming or photos. All of these forms can clearly present our ideas, the scenes of the project and also the angles of filming this project. The advantages of it is we won’t feel lost when we were filming since we can just simply following the angle we decided and drew/videoed in the storyboard.

When we were creating the storyboard, we were trying to think comprehensively. Not only angle and scene we included in the storyboard, but also considered the lighting, frame and position of camera would be set.

It worked pretty well since we followed the storyboard we drew. However, i prefer video storyboard more since we can see the lighting and the colour more obvious.

To look back what we drew for the storyboard, I realised we should practice drawing since it was not clear at all and does not look professional. Based on this, probably video storyboard was much better and suitable for us.

 

Unsuccessful Project

Everything seems work well after we finished filming for the first time. Unfortunately, we could not use the pieces at all since the camera was been set wrong in gain. Thus, the quality of the entire project is low and filled with noise. We tried heaps of the way to remove the noise in the frame, but seems like nothing can save the mistake we made when we set the camera.

  1. Checking the camera and set camera correctly is extremely important. Or else, you will experience desperation when you trying to edit the pieces into a project. White balance is the basic, but exposure, brightness, gain and etc. are also need to be considered and checked. (Sony EX3 was used)
  2. To make a horror film does not mean we have to film in the dark situation in order to achieve the scary atmosphere. Filming in a bright situation and edit to sunless and gloomy mood in post-production is the correct way to create a horror film.
  3. Setting in a wide and clear place for shooting would be better since more space can be used to place lighting, monitor. Actors also will have more space to exert strength. Clear space always gives audience a comfort feeling. Moreover, audiences will more concentrated on the main objects in the project since there won’t be much thing distracting and attracting their attention. (Wrong setting in building 56)
  4. Shooting more times for one scene than once will be better. It is always safe to have more shots about one scene, so that you can choose the best one while you are editing. It saves times and also you won’t take the risk of re-shooting.

I was looking for the unsuccessful project in my laptop, but unfortunately, i think i accident delete all the shots we took.

 

Pre-Production for Re-shoot

After the unsuccessful project we finished, we tried to keep up our spirits again and decided to re-shoot the project. Moreover, we decided to change the scenes and settings for this project.

After a serious discussion, we chose to film all the scenes in our school instead of going to St Kilda Beach or Dandenong Mountain to film the scene we were gonna put in the unsuccessful project. It makes more easier for us and the quality of the things we re-shoot is much better than previous one. We spent a day walked around in the school, and finally, found the places that are suitable for the scenes. Most of the places are setting in building 12, level 7. We also went to the playground in Lincoln Square.

Main shooting area.

The Lift Scene, which the lift breakdown.

The scene of White Room, where they were controlled by the doll of the ghost.

While we walked around in the school, we found a special place locate in our City Campus, Melbourne Old Gaol. We spent a bit time inside, walked around and learning the history of Melbourne Old Gaol. I was happy that took few sensible photos with an app called gudak. The atmosphere there really suits our horror concept. Unfortunately, we do not allowed to film inside.

 

New Colour Grading

I did realise the importance of colour grading while we were editing the project.  In my opinion, all of the scenes in the project should all be colour grade in similar colour and tone, so that it will have strong connection and looks more comfort. However, that is not creative at all. Even though it is a bit hard to accept all different colour for the scenes, the result presents is better than what we expected. We normally copied each scene in one sequence and each of us will colour grade the scene. Then we will choosing the best one or combining together.

The first 5 seconds of our 1.5mins trailer, we vested each scene different colour. It does look wired if watch each shot individually, but delights us when we combined together. There are three scenes graded based on RGB (Red, Green & Blue) tricolour. On the basic of RGB, we graded a scene into purple tone.

For the white room scene, since we want to have completely white, bright and pure tone. We did not change the temperature and tint which under white balance. Setting the exposure to high and strengthen the contrast. Moving the black to low can make the actors stand out clear and obvious from the white background. The make-up on their face also can be seen clearly in this situation, it absolutely will attract audiences’ attention.

For the scene of the ghost, we had no idea how we created this kind of red and blue tone. It was an accident, but we were pretty satisfied with this colour. The creation of this colour grade is based on RGB for sure.

 

 

The White Room Scene

The White Room was surprised us since we filmed better than we expected. It might be because we chose the correct location or we offer them the amazing makeup. The reason why we give them flatulent makeup is we want to make a contrast of their makeup and the pure white background. The makeup can help them look no soul and evil, which suits the concept of the project. The following are the photos we took for the actors. Only corrected a bit colour and it amazed us. Three of us feel really satisfied with this scene. Hope the audience like this scene.

 

Colour Grading

Colour Grading 1

This video were taken with my iPhone when we went to Wilson Promontory National Park, where is  about three hours drive away from Melbourne city. The original colour tone is just blue and white as  the colour of winter’s sea is. Natural and boring colour. I learned the reason that we change colour for each clip is to give the original footage a desired emotion and form.

For the first video, I want to distinguish between the same three shot based on RGB (Red, Green & Blue) tricolour, and adjust each trial according to the colour that are used in different generations. First photo is the original piece. The first trial i colour greed it in more reddish tone since the feeling i want is the style of 50s and 60s. The Movie in fifties and sixties are partial red. Comparing with contemporary film, the sharpness/definition is poorer, thus, i adjust a lot of contrast and exposure. Only small change on temperature and etc. in order to make the video effect has a feeling of revival.

The colour balance for the second trial, i change to green tone, since the desired feeling i want to achieve is evoking a sense of 80s and 90s. The movies in 80s and 90s have higher definition/sharpness than the movie in 50s and 60s. In order to create the feeling, i decreased exposure and increased contrast based on both temperature and tint has switch to green tone.

The colour tone for the third trial is more close to the style of  modern film, which is mainly blue tone. It has the highest resolution than the other two trial, and i adjusted a bit exposure and a lot of contrast to make the clip reach the highest resolution. and modern sense.

Colour Grading 2

This photo was taken in Kyoto, Japan; i was wearing kimono walking on the Hanami road at that time. In my opinion, the colour for the original photo is already suitable, however, i still wanna make a bit change in colour grading in order to seek out better version for this photo.

1st Trial: I did not make much colour change for the first trial since i’m satisfied with the colour of the original. The change i made the most is increasing the contrast, highlights and shadow tone in order to extrude me in the centre, contrasting with the classical architecture on the back. In contrast to the temperature of original piece, it looks warmer in the fist trial and a sense of period was evoked, especially i was wearing the traditional costume of Japan.

2nd Trial: This time I switch the photo in blue and purple tone, which gives a feeling of unreality. Decreasing the contrast to -83.2 and increase shadows to 45.8 present an unsubstantiated dreamland that I integrated with the backgrounds.

3rd Trial: I colour graded the photo into orange and dusk tone which seems like an old photographs  found in a memorial box. The temperature was turned to maximum for the warmer tone. Reducing the highlights to minimum and decrease a bit contrast cause the photo looks more old school than we think.

Colour Grading 3

For this clip, I decide to change the clip in the form of silent form. Thus, i colour grade it into black and white, also shadowed the margin. I was inspired based on ‘The Gold Rush (1925)’. This comedy film is written, produced and directed by Charlie Chaplin in the form of black and white silent film. After changed the colour, the trial of this clip seems like someone has been adrift on the sea for ages.

 

 ORIGINAL

BLACK AND WHITE 

 

Development of Ideas.Chapter One

One thing that horror films, particularly their trailers do exceptionally well to attract audience attention is SOUND DESIGN.

With each new horror trailer for the movie, they show audience that a carefully constructed soundscape, which force you to let go and feel a feeling of tension while sitting safely in the comfort chair. The appropriate sound that used in the right timing can easily help to recognise the difference between a professional film and a generic film just by closing eyes and listening to the story and

sound. It will scare the audience and give a sense of urgency if the sound is used suitably.

There are two types of sound used in filmmaking: Diegetic and non-diegetic. Diegetic sounds seem to occur naturally within the film – they happen on screen or are implied to exist just out of the frame. Non-diegetic are those that don’t naturally occur on set – sounds like narration or voice over, sound effects for dramatic/comic effect, or even soundtrack.

In our project, we decide not include many dialogue since this is not a story. We are not gonna tell the story to express the feeling and content. Diegetic sound and sound effects are what we use the most in this project. Short dialogue does exist but all in mandarin, moreover, there will be no English subtitles provided.

The Following are the few sound clips that we are

thinking to use in the project.

 

Development of Ideas.Chapter Two

Filmmakers utilise natural and artificial light to produce dramatic effects. Different lighting approaches help achieve programmed goals. Lighting sets a mood. Bright, colourful lighting often brings with it cheerfulness in films. Actors seem happier. Dark colours suggest sinister characteristics in actors and set the mood for dark plots, such as horror movie.

Lighting provides a way for directors to focus attention on characters as well. Lighting also sets location, indicating that a scene takes place in a room with no windows or filled with things. Coloured lighting might be an indication. Moreover, the angle of light, the mixture of light sources and contrasting lights between two parts of a scene also produce dramatic effects.

In the classic film, the lighting is most commonly used in the low-key lighting. It creates shadows and a dim colour, where the lights normally set at eye level or lower to the ground of the subject. Inconvenient of using the light is the lights need to be moved every time the actors are placed differently in order to achieve the correct shadow effect.  The importance of placing the light in correct place absolutely influence the features that need to create in a horror film.

For horror movie, low-key lighting is mainly used due to the effects it creates. The dim colour and shadows created by this lighting are suited to the conventions of a horror film; it creates tension due to its mysterious and dark atmosphere, controlling how much of the surroundings and characters are revealed. It sets the tone, mood and creates a dangerous association with enigma through the shadows and dull shades.

 

Deconstruction

For this deconstruction, I chose to analysis the opening sequence of Annabelle in the movie ‘The Conjuring’ on the facets of sound, shot construction, camera movement, performance and etc.

The opening scene uses a blank black screen with the sounds of a thunder. The sound tells the weather outside, as well as the darkness creates a fear of the unknown things are coming. Combing both sound of storm and the blank screen, it provokes audience to feel the fear of uncertain and unknown. It then flows into an eye level angle to shot a little girl sleeping on her bed, within a necklace flapping in slow motion. Shooting the necklace is moving unnaturally with the eerie music in the eye-level medium close up, highlighted the unusual phenomenon. There is then the movement of the girl being pulled, where the non-diegetic loud sound used here to shock the audience and leave a suspense for the audience of who violently pull the girl. A POV shot was used to allow the audience see from the little girl’s perspective in order to know what happened. 

The scene then switch to the audience view the girl while the camera is in the darkness. The lighting here is pretty simple; we can see the obvious contrast between dark and light. Shooting with low angle shot, which place the little girl in the light, represents the innocence and purity the girl is comparing with the darkness of the bottom of stairs, where the darkness might imply evil and hell. As the girl walked down to the stairs, the medium shot shows her face  covered in darkness, which demonstrate she walked into the evil’s world. Comparing with the darkness of the stairs, the lighting in the open room attract audience’s attention. After the shot focus on the empt display case, it gives audience the message of disappearance of Annabelle. When the little girl entered the room, the camera set from a 3rd persons perspective and shot over the shoulder to film the doll Annabelle and the danger that little girl is in. There only have a bit light on where the doll Annabelle is locate. The dietetic sounds of distraught breathing and the creaking sound of the chair directly build tension to the audience. Then a zoomed in POV shot give the audience a feel as if we are the girl of the doll’s attention. The use of extreme close up of the camera allows audience to see the face expression and detail in the doll’s face. The doll’s head turned to face the camera in a slow motion suggests the entire situation the little girl is in. The sound here is low non-diegetic sound, then suddenly change to the old sounds of string instruments, which is uncomfortable to hear for audience and the scene looks more unsettling to all audience. 

 

The reason that i chose to look up this scene in this movie is because our group decided to create the concept of horror for our final project.

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