Link to The Final Piece.
Link to The Final 1.5mins Piece.
Collaboration
Week 9Week10Week11Week12Week13 |
Make the plan and the division of task/ Make the storyboard |
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site decision/ Video storyboard/ shooting |
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Editing / watch and analyse / Re-shoot |
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Editing/preparation of presentation |
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Presentation |
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Filming machine preparation |
Clothes & Props preparation |
Communication with actors |
Site planning |
Director |
Lighting |
Audio |
Scrip |
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Cindy |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
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Ekey |
Y |
Y |
Y |
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Zhen |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
One the one hand, a specific plan and a reasonable division of labor are necessary for collaboration. On the other hand, communication and discussion advance the process of the task. For the first discussion, we cleared the overall direction for the movie, such as the main idea, style and focus point. Base on this, we made the plan and divide the work to each week and each person. After each week, checking the process can make sure we can finish on time. We drew the storyboard and listed some places we want to film. Like the examples I have listed, the only thing we need to do is base on the plan and decide the time for meetings. Overall, we have a good time for collaboration.
There is only one recessive part of the collaboration, it is hard to adjust everybody’s time to find a common free time to meet sometimes. It may waste lots of time to get together. Thus, each person is supposed to finish their part and bring the achievement to the meeting.
Pre-production process—Storyboard
There are several steps for a movie’s pre-production process. Such as script, budget, script breakdown, casting, shot list, storyboard, line the script, time the script and shooting schedule.
Storyboard is extremely useful especially when we have a very long story to tell or we want to do a presentation to show our ideas.
There are several steps we did in the process of making the storyboard, such as drawing, photos, and video.
When we drew our storyboard, there are various elements we need to consider, such as storyline, shots, the transition of shots, color, style, camera set and the angle of shooting.
Base on the raw storyboard, we do a research for the style and color we want for our film. Besides, we also shot some pictures for the film.
It did work well when we actually did filming. The only thing we need to consider is to make sure the frame is as same as the storyboard we were drawn.
Remove unwanted object
If you can do it well in shooting, do not leave it to editing!!!
It is still about the hunting scene. We thought we did a great scene and we did check the scene. However, nobody noticed that there were three people standing there and using phones to filming. It destroys the scene. Actually, the first idea comes to my mind is reshooting. However, we can not match the time with actors.
After realizing the problem, we started to find methods to remove them. To solve the problem, it has three requirements, no touchy, no shadow touchy and no camera touchy. The common way is using a picture without everything but only the environment. To start with, we select the top video and select the crop effect. Then move to effect control. Next, we mark the part we want to be covered. Finally, we can use the picture to cover the unwanted object. It did fix our problem of other scenes but not this one.
The hunting scene’s movement is too fast and huge. We found a new way for it. Cutting it to different pieces and enlarge each piece to remove the object out of the frame. It works well. It surprises us that the feeling of nervous after enlarging even stronger.
Lighting
Because I lacked the class, I learned a tutorial from youtube before we do first filming. There are 4 core lighting ideas:
- Available light
Before we setting any light, we should check what we have already had. After that, we can know what is available for us to use.
2. Motivated light
If the available light is not enough or not perfect for us to use, we need to add more light.
3. Hidden light
There is a classic situation. We know where the light gonna go. However, we can not put it there for some reasons. For example, the camera may see it.
4.experimental light
It is unnecessary for us to always make the light look nature and reality. It may make us lose some opportunities to be creative and get a better frame.
Editing
Tips: Skillful shortening is almost always beneficial
- Edit different scenes in different sequences. It will make the process of editing clearer and easier. Thus, setting different sequences for different purposes is efficiency.
- For choosing the shot, watch every single shot at first and pick the best one to use. However, do not delete anything. We may use part of them in later, such as sounds, frames, and dialogue.
- Expanded slightly the font. There is the frame we need the font to expanded slightly. It’s actually quite easy. Just set some key points in the timeline. Adjust the font to different sizes at different points. Then play it.
4. Effects: slightly turn down sounds (Just add the effect called crossfade in audio transition)
5. Shaking/ earthquake effect
First, copy the original scene and paste it on the top. Next, set key points at the different time. Move these pictures of key points out of frame a little. Then pick the cross dissolve effect from the video transition effects and put it at the start and the end.
Colour grading
For color grading, we created a new sequence for different scenes. We copied each scene in four or five and color grade them separately. Then choose the best one by comparing them. There is one important thing that opens your mind and does not be limited. Sometimes, I may think that this color is so wired. I give it up not because I hate it. The reason is it’s new and creative. I can not accept it at first. However, this is also the process some best things come up, such as the color grade of the ghost.
For white room part, we want the background completely white and bright. We move the exposure to the right and strengthen the contrast. However, characters would also get so unclear. It’s not what we want. Thus, we move the black to the left to make them stand out from the frame.
We use different color for different scenes. For the whole film, the style is quite dark.
Camera Movement
Practicing technical skills is the main achievement for this project. Camera movement is obviously a significant part.Normally, there are three reasons why people use camera movement.
Normally, there are three reasons why people use camera movement. First of all, the camera movement is motivated by emotion. If directors want to show the reaction of the characters, he can bring the audience closer and closer to the character by slight dolly in.
First of all, the camera movement is motivated by emotion. If directors want to show the reaction of the characters, he can bring the audience closer and closer to the character by slight dolly in.
Secondly, the camera movement is motivated by someone else moving. This way makes the camera move nature. This is exactly we used in the hunting scene of our film. We want to follow characters running and keep the camera stable. Because we do not have professional tools for camera movement, we come up with other ideas to achieve the final result. The cameraman was sitting on a chair with pulley while holding the camera. One people was continuing pulling the chair in front of characters when characters were running. The final result is exactly what we want, fast and nervous feeling.
Finally, the camera movement is motivated by hiding something. If the camera is moving, it is easier to hide something it shouldn’t show in the film.
Music and sounds effect
For horror movies, sounds effects and music can decide if it the success or not. However, the process of using sound effects and music to build a rich soundscape is torturous. It’s hard to find the suitable one. It’s difficult to decide which one to use. Besides, you never know if you can find a better one to fit.
- Recording: try to things sound realistic
For this time, we did record couple sound effects by the microphone, such as the sound of swing, leave and whispering. If we can record the sounds we need, then do it before searching online. We can have lots of tries and get the one good enough. Then compare with the sounds you get online. It can save the time when we do post. It’s significant to record spot sounds. It can fill the blank space in editing.
2. Be artistic
To start with, listen to the whole mix and pick the moment that can be stronger and creative.
3. Balanced: mixing all of the elements together
Export then checking if the sounds work well is also important.
Shoot in low light
After we shot in low light at the first time, I always wonder know what’s the mistake is. Thus, I did a research online to figure out what’s the problem and how to solve it.
- Using a wide aperture will let in as much light as possible. The smaller the number, the brighter the image. The other one is ISO, which is like putting on the camera on steroids. ISO digitally brightens the image. However, higher the ISO is, the more grainy the image will be. Thus, it’s normally the last resort to be considered. It quite same as technical photography as I learned. I think ISO is more like the gain for a filmic camera. We did adjust the gain, maybe this is the reason all frames failed.
- Use actual light: sometimes light the characters directly may look unnatural. Lighting from the back will be more natural.
- If all these methods can not help, just change the location.
Reflection of the whole process
1st: Camera
For shooting “Meng”, the horror movie we shot this time, we used two cameras in all. The first one is Sony X3, is the one we always use in class. However, because of the wrong set of gain, the quality of frames is quite low. Thus, we changed a camera to re-shoot. It calls Panasonic Lumix GH4. Its quality is 4K.
2nd: Story
At the beginning, we actually only had some pieces of ideas of different scary scenes instead of the whole story. Thus, the only thing we need to do is find the way to connect them together.
3rd: Light
The first time we did the filming, we use the red light in the dark situation. It works actually well, especially for the ghost part. However, it failed. We decided to film in the bright situation and edit it to dark in post-production. Almost all the location we filmed at the second time is outside. Thus, we did not use light for this time.
4th: Space
Finding the correct place is also a significant part of filmmaking. We used to plan to rent a place for shooting. One day, we tended to do a tour in RMIT. Then we found that all the place we imagine can be found in RMIT. This is so incredible. Thus, walk more before shooting.
5th: How to make the scene scarier
For this part, we have discussed and come up with some ideas.
- Make the character look small and powerless
- Set the scary scene in the safe place is more frightening.
- Keep some space behind the character. Leave the possibility of something showing up behind the character. Make the position creative and scary. Besides, make tension.
6th: Audio
We both searched on the internet and recorded by ourselves. We found sounds effects work better than music in a horror movie.
7th: Makeup & prop
For the ghost, we did not do makeup. It wouldn’t be seen after post-production. However, cloth and prop are important for the ghost. We bought a white dress and gush the red pigment on, make it look like blood. The ghost also always hold a doll. This idea is base on Annabell and we give this ghost a background story to make the role image more specific.
8th: what’s more?
It’s important to shoot one scene couple times. It may cost more time at that time. It actually saves more time in the future.