Pre-Production - Storyboard

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Pre-Production - Shooting Script

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Pre-Production: Production Log Week 5

This week we focused on aspects such as the monologue and locations for shooting.

Our idea of a monologue running throughout the trailer was influenced by the film 'Trainspotting.'

Our main character will be speaking about his life whilst a variation of cut up clips are shown throughout the majority of the 2 minute sequence.

Together we both came up with our own brief couple of paragraphs to get an idea of what the monologue would be sounding like from both of our point of views. Although we have still not come up with the final piece, our ideas are strong and focused. Now all we must do is wait until the sequence is fully edited and adapt our monologue to the plot of the opening to ensure a clear connotation of themes and ideas.


After thinking of as many different locations locally as possible we came up with two final ideas, one which was a dark alley way with some graffiti and liter etc. However the lighting was not good enough to sustain a clear image throughout each shot unless we had majorly expensive lighting equipment which would not be suitable for our brief as it is out of our budget.

This led on to us finding a new location locally, which was hassle as our actors were fairly inpatient and annoyed by the fact that this meant a five minute walk! However, we did make it and it was worth it as the location was perfect in terms of its natural lighting, mise-en-scene including tonnes of graffiti and general grittiness that we were looking for. (shown below)

Production Log - Week 5

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This is our production schedule. Changes will be made if there are any problems or editing with the schedule.

Pre-Production: Recci Shots

Recci Shots

This is a typical location of an abandoned building in Crystal Palace where a squat rave would take place. This is somewhere we may record.

This is what a rave would look like inside. This rave is quite a big one and therefore has a lot of expensive decor and lighting. Such as the big arch on the main stage and big flame lights.

Pre-Production: Titles

Titles

For our titles we have commissioned a friend to write all of them out in a typical graffiti style, such as the one shown below. However ours will be much clearer. To show these we will be scattering drug paraphernalia around them and taking photos. These are two main themes of our film and we're very happy that out titles will be communicating them strongly.

We plan to have each title displayed for around 2.5 seconds with the exception of the title which is currently undecided. This means out credits will take up a total of around 27 seconds screen time, leaving us with around 1 and a half minutes for film footage.

List of Titles:

1. HalfOunce Presents 
2. A MainFilm Production 
3. Directed by David Salisbury
4. Starring James McRoy
5. Elliot Saunders
6. Harry O'Connor
7. And introducing Ross Garside
8. Music By ReecaA
9. "Title Of The Film" TBC

Pre-Production: Daily Call Sheet

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This is our call sheet for the 13th of March

Pre-Production - Production Log - week 4

This week we focused on target audience - conducting both primary and secondary research to gain a clearer idea as to who our film will be targeted at and whether we are currently targeting the right audience. From conducting our Vox Pops we have learned that our audience is specific to the right people and our ideas are strong. However we noticed that some people recommended to include racism in the film. We are probably going to avoid this as it does not really correlate with our main themes and would not add to the realistic portrayal of the 'Rave culture' in the film.

However I conducted some secondary research before hand to help give a clear idea of exactly what kind of things happen at a squat party, where they are, how they are set out and what kind of people attend them. 

This will inform our production as it means we can include camera footage of the most commonly noticed parts of a rave and therefor help the audience to understand elements that are harder to show on a screen such as the vibes, atmosphere and intensity of the music.

Here are some ideas of the views we should include to create a realistic approach to portraying this type of culture.

The qualities of a squat party - not much quality at all.

Location - illegal and abandoned in urban, suburban and sometimes very secluded locations enviroments.

I think we left a major question out of our Vox Pops that could of made a difference towards having an effective and realistic BSR film. I think we should have asked the respondents about their views on the Police and whether we should include the theme of controversial policing in our film as this issue is something that is commonly involved the rave culture. As you may know the culture does break many laws and it is something the police are concerned about for the health & safety and well-being of people involved in the raves but more importantly the disruptions they may cause to others. In order to find out if this is as vital as I believe I am going to conduct some secondary research to explore policing issues in the raving scene.

Pre-Production - Treatment

Title

Target Audience

Age: 16-24.

Gender: 80% Male. 20% Female.

Interests: Raving, Electronic dance music, Partying, Fashion, Graffiti/Street art, MC-ing, DJ-ing.

Other Media Consumption: Films, Social networking sites, Blogs, YouTube, Magazines (Dazed&Confused, Wonderland, VICE).

Class: Working & Middle.

The themes and representations of our film will appeal to our target audience (TA) through Uses & Gratifications (U&G) theory of Personal Identity, by seeing the rave culture and how it's represented on screen one would be able to relate it to their own life and their representations of the people involved, therefore setting up comparisons of a fairly controversial lifestyle. The film could also relate to personal, second hand experiences they might of had (friends taking the same route of our protagonist). This then links to U&G theory of Social Relationships as one might watch the film to imitate relationships they don't, but would like to have in real life and also as a conversation matter between their peers.
     The main USP of our film is that it provides an insight into a controversial culture that isn't commonly explored. Our film therefore appeals to our TA through U&G theory Surveillance/Information as one could watch the film to weigh up the risks of getting in to the raving lifestyle, or to simply gain an insight in to what it's like.

We have conducted some primary research to ensure that our ideas and themes can be identified by our target audience as something they will take an interest in. We conducted the research through the format of Vox Pox and then gave the responses an analysis of how our film works and also how we can improve on it. Our Vox Pox. Audience Research and Analysis

We also conducted some secondary research which has a news article and an analysis of how it will make our opening sequence more realistic.

Technology

For our production we will be using a HD camcorder for the majority of the filming and an iPhone 4 for the POV rave footage. The HD camcorders will better the finish and overall style of our production, however they are devices that only one of us has used and so our experience is limited and so learning how to use these to a proficient standard will be time consuming 

     For our post production we will be using Final Cut Express® as our primary editing software, this will give us the tools necessary to advance our style of editing as we feel that we would be limited using iMovie. The limitations of this is that neither of us can use the software to a proficient standard as of yet and so will be learning as we go along, which therefore will again be quite time consuming. 

Representations

Our Protagonist, Jamie Petch, is a 17 year old male from the suburbs of London. He is introduced to the scene through an older friend, Jack Adams who used to live local.

We feel that Propp's character types aren't applicable to our storyline. This is a theory mainly explored in high concept, mainstream, Hollywood films. However we will use Goffman's character theory theory:

1. The bit player (minor character whose specific background the audience is not aware of) - This will be Jack Adam's older brother who warms Jamie about getting out of the rave scene, we don't even learn his name but he is key to the turn of the film.
2. The fool (a character that uses humor to convey messages) - This will be Barry McDermot. He just never seems to be down, portraying a positive image on drugs. It seems like nothing effects him in a negative way, always cracking jokes and making people laugh
3. The deuteragonist (secondary character) - We feel that Jack Adams best suits this character type rather than Propp's "antagonist" label, because Jack doesn't intentionally drag Jamie down. He doesn't purposely clash or obscure Jamies goals and in his death motivates Jamie to turn his life around.

Our film will intially subvert the typical representations of squatter/raver community as the first half of the film shows the highs and positives of this lifestyle and the people involved. However this representation changes around mid way in the film where Jamie, after Jacks death, want's to get out but receives no help from his supposed 'friends'. This shows the stereotypical representation of the afore said group being selfish and detached.


Narrative

Our film follows a teenage boy from the outskirts of London as he falls into the squat party/rave lifestyle and goes off the rails. He thinks everything's going great but doesn't realise that all the securities of his old life are slipping through his fingers. When he loses one of his best mates to a drug overdose, reality kicks back in and he realises he wants his old life back, but it's too late. 

Our opening sequence starts off with Jamie's teacher confronting him about his recent slant in effort, attendace and overall wellbeing/appearance. This sparks a speech from a seemingly quiet Jamie, this monolgue then continues as a voiceover for the rest of the sequence, the things he talks about are shown in seperate footage through crosscutting. For example when talking about the raves themself, real footage shot using 'free camera' technique is shown.

The camera movement will be minimal to connote the lack of funds for a typical BSR film and this will add to the realistic representation of the subjects and topics explored. Our rave footage will be shaky, this is an idea we got from the opening sequence of 'Cathy Come Home' (1964, Ken Loach) where a similiar technique is used when Cathy and her friend are walking down the street.

     Our opening sequence will use real life, urban, locations, which will signify the gritty, true to life, working class environments. This is a major convention of the BSR genre. Used also for budget restrictions.

    We will be introducing the themes instead of the plot of the film. Also we will be including titles for instiutional comapanys, actors and key crew. There will be use of super imposed graphics and engaging music.

Conventions

There will be a big focus on costume; One, because this will be a realistic representation of the raving culture and Two, because these costumes are ones we have to hand and therefore will keep the budget low.
Our main themes are drugs, niche music and coming of age. These are key themes of the BSR genre, therefore we are conforming to the BSR conventions through the inclusion of said themes. The first half of our film could be seen as slightly high concept (showing the high points of the culture, this is only done to create a more shocking contrast when everything falls apart in the second half of the film. This then conforms to the grity tone of BSR films. This could be seen as a hybrid element, which we take on as part of our USP.


Style & Iconography

We will use minimal camerawork when showing Jamie in his normal day to day life. We will be communicating the mundane, slow pace of his life with stationary shots and abstract/canted angles. But when showing the rave scenes we will use the 'shaky/free camera' technique. This will connote how busy and hectic this scene is and excite the audience, leaving them waiting for the weekend in the film, along side jamie.
    
Again with editing we will use very simple editing techniques through Jamie's school week, lots of continuity editing to connote the realistic movements of his day to day life. Long takes will be included in these sections too along with long shot reverse shots. However at the rave scenes lots of jump cuts will be used to connote the intoxication and we will experiment with the effects of 'seeing double' to further this too.

We will be using typical raving costume, this is available to us through friends. Props will be drugs (not real) to signify that the main theme of drugs in the film. There will also be alcohol and possibly condoms to connote the underage sex which was asked for in our Vox Pox.

The main sound will be a monologue from Jamie over the top of a fairly calm but upbeat electronic track made by a friend of mine, who's given be full permission to use it. The monologue will walk the audience through the positive aspects of the culture, slating anything that goes against it. We also may use some sound from footage we have from real raves, depending on what we can get permission for.

Institution

The production company being Film4, means that we will have to abide by certain ideologies to maintain the company's ethos. Given this we will be producing a gritty, true to life BSR film. Which is based around working class people in urban areas dealing with everyday struggles which on a wider scale aren't really that significant.

We would go with 'Dogwoof Indie' as the distributors of our film. They are a London based company who we believe would be interested in our film for the themes and ideologies explored. Whereas a bigger, more mainstream company would be solely focused on making a profit.

We would enter our film in to festivals INSERT FESTIVALS HERE.... Hopefully we would then pick up a contract for a string of art houses. As for home exhibition we would have it put up on LoveFilm, Apple, YouTube Rentals and Film4OD. These are easily accessible and cheap for each party, reaching a wide audience for a little budget. These New Media Technology mediums of home exhibition( LINK WEBS) would appeal to our 16-24 year old target audience as computers are part of their everyday lives.

Pre-Production - Secondary Research on London Squat Parties

After scrolling through a vigorous amount of reviews, forums and websites I found an article of 'The Evening Standard' which tells the story of a reporters first hand expeirence at one of London’s more rough Squat parties from an outsiders point of view.

-London squat party Article.

From reading through this we have gathered an idea some of the more important themes with in a realistic squat party. For example, taking drugs is obviously a theme, consequently, this means drugs dealers are also a huge part of the scene.
     Another crucial theme of the concept is to feel free from society and feel as one when everyone is partying together. A squat party is the young person’s form of escapism from society’s restrictions and norms.
      One of the other reasons that we can see from this article is that legal clubs are restricting the way that parties are run. The laws and rules prevent these type of people from fulfilling there idea of a good night - anything a normal person enjoys such as socialising, drinking and dancing, with the addition of factors such as cannabis, class A, informal dress codes, grafting and obviously the main difference in music.
     Which leads us on to the most important difference in the two cultures - taste in music. Squat parties revolve around music genres such as DNB, Jungle, Dubstep and various forms of Trance (pretty much anything which a massive bass line and fast pace). However, the more commercial form of clubber may listen to 'popular culture' music such as RNB, Dance, Commercial Dubstep, and pretty much anything you hear on Capital FM.

These factors are all helping us to shape the form of our opening sequence by including these vital themes and making the opening sequence seem and feel more realistic to portray a solid message about the culture of raving and squat parties.

Pre-Production: 5 Part Narrative Structure

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This is our 5 Part Narrative following McKee's theory.

Pre-Production - Our Vox Pox. Audience Research and Analysis

Analysis


What do you think the age of our Protagonist should be?The responses varied from the ages 16 to 24, informing us that our age is going in the right direction. Many people said 18 years of age, which may be because they are associating laws of legal drugs such as Alcohol and Tobacco with our main character and then associating them to illegal drug taking. 

However, we decided that 17 would be the best age to emphasize the controversial issue of drug abuse being associated with youths and not adults. The younger the protagonist more of a problem the issue would become as the audience recognizes it. 


What gender do you think the Protagonist should be?


9/10 of our respondents said male, which informs us that we have made the right decision to make our Protagonist male. It proves that our decision is based on being realistic; as you would more commonly see a male teenager get involved in raving and drugs. 



What do you think of our idea?



All 10 of our respondents gave a positive response to our idea which means we have met the wants and needs of our target audience and also targeted the right group of people. The idea was commonly referred to as original and realistic which is the direction that we hope to go in as it would suit the genre of British Social Realism (BRS) by having a narrative that is realistic to British society and also original which means it is an idea that not many people have focused on. 

By basing the film on the rave scene we will increase awareness of the problems involved such as regular drug abuse and law breaking. 

What are your views on including illicit drugs in the film?



9/10 of our respondents implied that including drugs in the film is a good thing, not in the sense of promoting drug abuse, but promoting the issue of it by raising awareness. Also, it would be particularly hard to not include drugs in the film when this is the main theme of it. Some responses mentioned that it is something happening commonly is today’s society, which supports our line of argument, as although it is something commonly taking place, not everyone is actually aware of the scale of the issue. 



What controversial issues would you like to see?



The first response: "anything really," and others such as "I’m not really sure," shows us that not all of our target audience is aware of the problems of our age group concerning the law. By including as many controversial issues as we realistically can, we feel that we are raising awareness not only to the older community but our target audience which may have positive effects of issues such as drug taking.
    

The most common issue referred to was racism which may be due to the fact that our respondents are from an urban, multi-cultural society and so they have seen or even experienced racism in there childhood. This automatically makes us recognize the scale of this issue in urban and suburban society and therefore implies that we should try to include some forms of racism at some stage in our film.



What are your favorite BSR films?Happy Go Lucky: 1


Trainspotting: 1


Attack the block: 1


Made in Britain: 1
Four Lions: 2


Football Factory: 1


Kidulthood/Adulthood: 4


This is England: 1


Greenstreet: 1



Even thought these films are all BSR, the majority have been released through the cinema format which shows that we should definitely consider using large production and exhibition companies to ensure a cinema release in some smaller cinemas as a release in all cinemas would be far out of our budget.

The most common film mentioned is Kidulthood and Adulthood, which shows us that our target audience is most interested in films with characters around the same age as them and from similar locations. This shows us that our film is targeted at the right age group and will most probably get a good response when released.

The second most common film is Four Lions, which has a main theme of racism. This is again a theme that we should include in our film, as it is something that our target audience takes an interest in.

Pre-Production - Production Log - week 3

This week we have been studying various types of BSR opening sequences. I have noticed that the sequences give away lots of clues about narrative but never leave the audience knowing too much. they set the themes and ideas up for the viewer.


An example is Trainspotting. The film introduces the protagonist running away from security down side roads and barging past pedestrians. From this we can understand that the Protagonist is not law-abiding, is a thieve and knows his area well - e.g. side alleys and small roads. This tells us that he is from a working class area. 


In my opening sequence I plan to introduce themes such as drugs, illegal activities, rebel actions and verbal abuse to the working class. this will set my audience up to know what kind of protagonist they are dealing with, however it will give no clues as to how the plot lays out further on in the diegesis of the film. 



Font type we are considering



Accesories that will be scattered around the titles.

However, in terms of opening sequences we have decided to use a diatribe of elements that our protagonist may use or possess - e.g. cannabis, Rizla, cigarettes etc. The actual font will be in a graffiti form as graffiti is something that our target audience will have come across or even be involved in. We want to be adventurous with our titles as we have noticed many film opening sequences and even people in our class do not completely focus on them to get the best out of the credits. The titles are just as important as any other element in terms of giving away clues to the narrative and transferring themes from the screen to the audience.